A Roaring Lion

"If you stop struggling, you stop life." - Huey Newton

Today, everything was against me.
I do not want to delve into the complexity and depth of it all because it is that bad.
I don't know what I did to deserve this pain and misery.
D:

Where to begin? I will try to shorten this.
Last week, I ordered a film camera for my Intro to Photography class.
It was delayed by FedEx.
It came late.
It didn't have a battery.
I ordered a battery - overnighted it.
It didn't come.
They say they didn't get my order.
I had to explain this to my professor, who I am sure is fed up with me by now.
I am fed up with myself.
I am fed up with FedEx.
I went to Battery Plus.
I put the battery in the camera.
It worked great.
I pushed the shutter release button.
It froze.
I tried to put film in it.
It stayed frozen.
I fear I broke it.
I have to go the the darkroom on Sunday at 2.
I will never be done by then unless Superior Camera can fix my camera.

...
that leaves out many arduous details, but you get the gist.

All of this agony and stress goes to prove a point.
Satan knows about my project.
He wants to do everything in his power to stop me.
He has been throwing things like this at me all day in hopes to discourage me from my mission.
But guess what?

I AM NOT GOING TO LET HIM WIN!

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Satan wants to bog me down in feeling sorry for myself so I will stay the self-centered person that I am, and thus stifle my growth in Christ. And keep me from finishing my project.

Thank God that the day did not end there!
As I, my brother, and friend Brittany drove to Battery Plus, a homeless man was sitting on the corner. We stopped at the red light at the corner, and then, there it was - the urge to do something for him.
I thought to myself "no, he'll probably use it for alcohol or something".
And then I remember that it is not my place to predestine this man to sin - if he chooses to do that, all I can do is pray for him. I shouldn't NOT help him just because of what he MIGHT do.

And so, I hurriedly fished through my ginormous purse for my wallet fearing that the red light would soon turn to green.
We handed him the money, and he just about jumped out of his skin with gratitude.
That man would have to be the greatest actor in planet Earth's history if he secretly planned to use the money for bad things.
He told us that he had just lost his job and thus lost his home. He then proceeded to clasp his hands in prayer and say "thank you Lord", and told us that we gave him hope.
The man then ran across the street to a McDonald's.

If we had driven past that man, I would have missed out on so much.
It really is more blessing to oneself to give than receive. I felt so happy, like I had really helped someone who REALLY need it.
That is a feeling that NO HARDSHIP can keep me from pursuing.

"When difficulties are overcome, they begin blessing." - Traditional Proverb